An Optimal Hybrid Quantum-Classical Representation for Robust Photonic Image Processing on NISQ Devices

An Optimal Hybrid Quantum-Classical Representation for Robust Photonic Image Processing on NISQ Devices | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article An Optimal Hybrid Quantum-Classical Representation for Robust Photonic Image Processing on NISQ Devices Nouioua Tarek This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7556673/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 7 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Quantum image processing (QIP) promises significant advantages for computer vision, but its realization on Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) devices is hampered by a fundamental trade-off between qubit efficiency and measurement robustness. This work introduces a novel hybrid quantum-classical representation that optimizes this trade-off for discrete-variable photonic quantum hardware using path-encoded qubits. Through a dual optimization approach combining simulation-based ablation study and mathematical optimization with bootstrap validation (1000 resamples), we derive an optimal operat­ing point of 𝜶 = 0 . 393 ± 0 . 019 (95% CI: 0.355-0.424). Our architecture requires only 𝑸 = I log 2 ( 𝑵 2 )] + 4 qubits for an 𝑵 × 𝑵 image, achieving logarithmic scaling while maintaining measurement fidelity between 0.92-0.97 on simulated NISQ hardware. We provide complete photonic circuit designs utilizing path encoding, including resource esti­mates for optical components. Comprehensive performance analysis demonstrates a 38% improvement in error resilience over FRQI and a 27% reduction in qubit requirements over NEQR for typical image operations. Measurement distribution analysis confirms well-separated operational modes with minimal overlap, indicating excellent discrimination capability. This work establishes a practical and scalable framework for implementing QIP on imminent discrete-variable photonic quantum processors. Quantum Image Processing Photonic Quantum Computing NISQ Devices Hybrid Representation FRQI NEQR Optimal Encoding Bootstrap Validation Measurement Distribution Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 24 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 19 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 04 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 29 Sep, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 12 Sep, 2025 First submitted to journal 07 Sep, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7556673","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":585832713,"identity":"074bee32-23db-4731-ac72-fe564cc44bd3","order_by":0,"name":"Nouioua Tarek","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"University of Tebessa, LAVIA: Laboratory of Vision and Artificial Intelligence","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nouioua","middleName":"","lastName":"Tarek","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-09-07 13:53:13","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7556673/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7556673/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":102296740,"identity":"55ad2660-73de-4a14-8d42-2128314bc25f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-10 10:21:14","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":602645,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"NouiouaPaper.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7556673/v1_covered_c84eab7c-86c8-42ca-913c-98fac9909955.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"An Optimal Hybrid Quantum-Classical Representation for Robust Photonic Image Processing on NISQ Devices","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"quantum-information-processing","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"qinp","sideBox":"Learn more about [Quantum Information Processing](http://link.springer.com/journal/11128)","snPcode":"11128","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11128/3","title":"Quantum Information Processing","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Quantum Image Processing, Photonic Quantum Computing, NISQ Devices, Hybrid Representation, FRQI, NEQR, Optimal Encoding, Bootstrap Validation, Measurement Distribution","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7556673/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7556673/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eQuantum image processing (QIP) promises significant advantages for computer vision, but its realization on Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) devices is hampered by a fundamental trade-off between qubit efficiency and measurement robustness. This work introduces a novel hybrid quantum-classical representation that optimizes this trade-off for discrete-variable photonic quantum hardware using path-encoded qubits. Through a dual optimization approach combining simulation-based ablation study and mathematical optimization with bootstrap validation (1000 resamples), we derive an optimal operat­ing point of 𝜶 = \u003cstrong\u003e0\u003c/strong\u003e.\u003cstrong\u003e393 \u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e± \u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0\u003c/strong\u003e.\u003cstrong\u003e019 \u003c/strong\u003e(95% CI: 0.355-0.424). Our architecture requires only 𝑸 = \u003cem\u003eI\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003elog\u003c/strong\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u003cem\u003e (\u003c/em\u003e𝑵\u003csup\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u003cem\u003e)] + \u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4 \u003c/strong\u003equbits for an 𝑵 \u003cem\u003e× \u003c/em\u003e𝑵 image, achieving logarithmic scaling while maintaining measurement fidelity between 0.92-0.97 on simulated NISQ hardware. We provide complete photonic circuit designs utilizing path encoding, including resource esti­mates for optical components. Comprehensive performance analysis demonstrates a 38% improvement in error resilience over FRQI and a 27% reduction in qubit requirements over NEQR for typical image operations. Measurement distribution analysis confirms well-separated operational modes with minimal overlap, indicating excellent discrimination capability. This work establishes a practical and scalable framework for implementing QIP on imminent discrete-variable photonic quantum processors.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"An Optimal Hybrid Quantum-Classical Representation for Robust Photonic Image Processing on NISQ Devices","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-02-09 01:20:34","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7556673/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-04-24T14:04:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-03-19T08:36:16+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"268663315564647876200410300855090990313","date":"2026-02-04T16:06:45+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-02-04T13:03:30+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-09-29T06:16:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-09-12T15:30:15+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Quantum Information Processing","date":"2025-09-07T13:45:26+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"quantum-information-processing","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"qinp","sideBox":"Learn more about [Quantum Information Processing](http://link.springer.com/journal/11128)","snPcode":"11128","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11128/3","title":"Quantum Information Processing","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"a3b43924-af54-4f33-a6ae-148634c223a5","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 9th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-18T11:38:13+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-02-09 01:20:34","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7556673","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7556673","identity":"rs-7556673","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}